22 MAYBE HOPE

During the following days, Jonah remained thoughtful. He felt a deep pity for Evangeline. She lived all her life in a perfect world that never existed. Realizing reality, opening one's eyes when it was always dark hurts.

Jonah and the others were waiting for the next challenge. What atrocity should they commit now? The uncertainty caused them anxiety. From Lucifer, one could expect anything except good things.

"In two hours, come with Evangeline to the river. I have something to tell you. Please keep this meeting between the three of us. No one else must know," said Jonah to the worm man, one cold morning when it was snowing heavily.

"What are you up to, kid? This all seems very suspicious to me. Besides, Evangeline is still mad at me. I don't think she wants to come." Said the worm man.

"Try it. What I'm about to tell you is going to define our future."

"The future does not exist for souls in distress.

"It will exist, it will exist if you listen to me. Jonah replied.

Since his encounter with the witch who killed hundreds in that cursed town, Jonah had not been able to stop thinking about what she had told him. 'Lucifer is not as strong as he appears'. Jonah wanted to do something for him and the other circus freaks. He no longer had anything to lose.

Sitting by the river, he felt his feet wet from the water that was beginning to freeze. The little fish were biting non-stop on his fingers, feeding on his dead skin.

"I'm sorry it took so long, but Evangeline didn't want to come. I almost had to drag her in." Said a voice behind Jonah. It was the worm man.

"The important thing is that you are here now. I'll be brief because I don't want anyone else to hear us. There is a way to kill Lucifer. You must help me."

There was a deathly silence. Jonah expected the worm man or Evangeline to say something, but both were stunned. They were not prepared to listen to what Jonah had just told them. When he received no response, Jonah decided to continue speaking.

"During my time in the outside world, I was locked up with a witch who was burned by some villagers. However, before she died, she told me that Lucifer is not really the devil. Lucifer and his twin sister invoked the devil and asked for immortality in exchange for being separated forever. Amelie, Lucifer's twin sister, went to live in a faraway village; only she possesses the spell that can end Lucifer". Jonah spoke quickly and without pause. He didn't want to have to repeat that. He was afraid. The information could not be heard by the wrong person.

"What you are saying is crazy. We're not sure that everything that witch told you is true. Why should we believe?" Evangeline expressed incredulously.

"Because we have no other choice," Jonah replied.

"I don't know what to tell you, boy. You have left me speechless."

"Because of the competition we are in, we are the only ones allowed to stay away from the circus. I need your help to do this. Jonah insisted on despair.

"It's too risky. Whispered the worm man.

"It is very risky," Evangeline repeated.

"Tell me one thing you could lose, and I'll leave you alone," exclaimed Jonah.

Another sepulchral silence took over the place. Evangeline no longer had anything to lose, and the worm man, if he ever had anything, the passing of the years had made him forget it.

"You are letting fear speak for you. If we succeed in killing Lucifer, all those souls that have been unjustly condemned by her, finally they can have the so longed-for eternal rest".

"In case we decide to help you, how would we do it? How shall we get the spell that will kill Lucifer?" asked the worm-man hastily.

"We are heading north, and as far as I know, Arundel, the city where Amelie lives, is also in the north. Lucifer always gives us a week to finish the challenges. We must be sure to finish our second challenge in two days and meet at Arundel's entrance on the third day. That way, we can all look for Amelie together. We would do it in a very discreet way so that Lucifer doesn't find out". Jonah explained to his companions, who listened attentively to every word.

"Everything seems to be perfectly planned. However, that does not guarantee us victory." Commented on the worm man, his countenance had become serious.

"Worm Man" means that we will support you. We will embark on this adventure together." Evangeline Express with a little smile.

"Thank you very much! We're going to try, and if it doesn't work out, we'll keep trying until we run out of options. "exclaimed Jonah. Although he was grateful for his friends' willingness to help, he was very nervous. They were betting everything on something uncertain. If they failed, the consequences would be frightening.